Shelly Ferger (pictured above), CEO and founder of Dogs For Life, Inc., spoke at the January 11 groundbreaking for a new Assistance Dog Training & Administrative Center to be built next to the organization’s off-leash dog park located at 12^th Street and 16^th Avenue. The new facility will be used to train service, pet therapy and hearing assistance dogs for armed forces veterans and local residents.

Funds for the $350,000 center were raised entirely from private donors, including a $100,000 anonymous challenge grant that helped stimulate sufficient donations to move forward with the Center. Bill Bryant & Associates is contractor for the project and architect Tony Donadio, a long-time supporter of the organization, designed it and will also act as project manager.

Construction is expected to begin within the next 30 days. The organization’s off-leash park is a fenced-in, member and user-supported facility run for years by Ferger. For more information about Dogs For Life, visit the website, www.dogsforlifevb.org or call Ferger at 772-567-8969.